Elon Musk dilutes X's block feature

Elon Musk has announced X’s artifact diagnostic is acceptable to change, removing a cardinal element.

At present, erstwhile you artifact someone, they are barred from some interacting with you connected X and from seeing your posts.

In the adjacent X update, blocked users volition inactive beryllium capable to presumption your content.

“High clip this happened,” said X CEO Elon Musk successful a post. “The artifact relation volition artifact that relationship from engaging with, but not artifact seeing, nationalist post.”

Some person suggested this is simply a sensible move, arsenic blocked users could simply log retired of their relationship and usage their browser’s incognito mode to side-step the block. Tech commentators person noted this is not really the case.

“Go look astatine your relationship successful incognito mode and you'll recognize you don't spot each the posts,” writes The Verge’s Tom Warren connected X.

Other posters person suggested this is simply a retrograde measurement for the information and wide acquisition of X users.

“I deliberation this is simply a atrocious idea,” writes British rapper Zuby. “There are galore reasons idiosyncratic whitethorn not privation definite individuals from easy seeing each their nationalist posts. There are immoderate REALLY atrocious actors connected social media, sadly.”

This is the latest successful a agelong database of contentious changes Musk has made to the level since acquiring it successful October 2022 – not least, changing its sanction from the original, Twitter.

One of his earlier moves was the reinstating of thousands of banned accounts, including those of far-right activists and achromatic supremacists, specified arsenic The Daily Stormer laminitis Andrew Anglin.

The archetypal “blue tick” Twitter system was retired successful favour of X Premium. This turned an individuality verification instrumentality into thing radical could wage monthly for successful bid to get an icon connected their illustration and unlock features including longer, much rambling posts.

In April 2023, Musk made an estimated 80 per cent of the platform’s unit redundant, including a important proportionality of workers dedicated to idiosyncratic spot and safety.

Ahead of this, successful December 2022, Musk dissolved the Twitter Trust and Safety Council, an advisory committee made up of academics, quality rights and civilian organisations. It was designed to steer Twitter policies and practices.

According to a 2023 report by The Verge, Musk demanded X engineers marque changes to the platform’s backend algorithms aft his ain Super Bowl tweet received little engagement than that of President Joe Biden.

A survey by Edison Research published earlier this twelvemonth suggests X has seen arsenic overmuch arsenic a 30 per cent driblet successful usage betwixt 2023 and 2024.